Wensum Valley Nursery School

Wensum Valley Nursery School Wensum Road, Lyng, Norwich, Norfolk, NR9 5RJ

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 18 May 2018 5 February 2015

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This inspection: Good 2

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Good 2

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This inspection: Good 2

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good 2

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This inspection: Good 2

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good 2

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This provision is good

 The manager and staff continually reflect on children’s experiences to provide a broad range of activities. Children hatch chicks on-site, write their own story trails and have sessions with the nursery’s volunteer gardener to plant their own carrots.  Children are excited to arrive at the welcoming nursery. They confidently talk to staff about their home lives. Children freely access their learning records, asking staff to read the captions of photographs to share their achievements and memories with friends.  Staff encourage children’s independence. Children confidently spread their own butter on crackers and use a timer to manage turn-taking on bicycles outside.  Parents comment positively about the nursery and appreciate the ‘lovely’ staff, the effort taken to support children’s move to school and how staff value each individual child.  Staff demonstrate a good understanding of how children learn and develop. They use

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This provision is good

assessments effectively to help to identify gaps in children’s learning. Staff make accurate observations of children’s play to plan for their continued progress.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Staff performance management does not yet place a sharp focus on individual strengths and areas for improvement, to enable the development of expert teaching skills.  Occasionally, staff do not challenge and extend children's thinking well enough during conversations about their interests or objects they are curious about.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

To further improve the quality of the early years provision the provider should:

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

 strengthen the performance management system to enable sharper focus on individual strengths and areas for development, to raise the quality of teaching to the highest level  make the most of opportunities to extend and challenge children's thinking to build upon their interests and understanding of the world.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector spoke with children and staff at appropriate times during the inspection.  The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact this has on children's learning.  The inspector completed a joint observation with the manager.  The inspector held a meeting with the committee chairperson and the manager. She looked at relevant documentation, including evidence of the suitability of staff.  The inspector spoke to a number of parents during the inspection and took account of their views.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The committee, manager and staff team work effectively to offer a quality service to families. The manager is reflective and forward thinking, working with her team to continually develop the service. The nursery works in partnership with parents and the wider community to improve the experiences of children attending. For example, they hold fundraising and play events with local community groups. Safeguarding is effective. All staff have a robust understanding of what to do if they have concerns about a child's welfare. Staff access a range of training opportunities, sharing new ideas and knowledge with their colleagues. Parents are valued as active contributors to their child's learning, with opportunities to share information with staff and talk about their child's progress.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff know children well and use this knowledge to plan interesting activities, which support children's individual learning needs. Children have plenty of opportunities to develop their mathematical skills. For example, they explore the concept of ratios while making playdough and cast votes to choose the playdough colour or a book to be read. Staff encourage children to revisit and solidify their learning. For example, staff repeat activities with additional resources to stretch children's skills and build on their understanding. Staff use mark making opportunities and role model reading for meaning to support children's early literacy skills. For example, children confidently use a simple photograph book with key words to find out the directions to make their own playdough.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Staff respond warmly to children's emotional needs, offering comfort and showing empathy for their feelings. Children form good bonds with staff, which helps them to settle quickly. Children are involved in making decisions about their play, their choices and opinions are respected. Staff praise children purposefully for their efforts. This supports their self-esteem and understanding of behavioural expectations. For example, staff praise children for 'super turn-taking' during a cooking activity. Children show a good understanding of self-care skills, for example, they roll up their sleeves and dispense soap for themselves when washing their hands before eating snack. They make friends and enjoy playing collaboratively together. Staff are good role models, setting clear boundaries for behaviour and supporting children to respect each other and be kind.

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Outcomes for children are good

All children make good progress in their learning and development. They learn skills to support future learning, such as negotiating their role in an imaginative game with friends. Children practise their physical skills enthusiastically in the well-planned garden. Children show they feel safe and that they are learning to understand risk. For example, children climb while pretending to fix the playhouse roof and show a good understanding of where they need to put their feet to climb safely. Children are active learners, who listen carefully to stories and ask questions about the world around them.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 254164 Local authority Norfolk Inspection number 1090372 Type of provision Sessional provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register Age range of children 2 - 5 Total number of places 23 Number of children on roll 31 Name of registered person Wensum Valley Nursery School Committee

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 5 February 2015 Telephone number 01603 872252

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reference number

Wensum Valley Nursery School registered in 1999. The nursery employs six members of staff, all of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications. The nursery is open from 9am to 3pm, on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, during term time only. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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reference number

This inspection was carried out by Ofsted under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 on the quality and standards of provision that is registered on the Early Years Register. The registered person must ensure that this provision complies with the statutory framework for children’s learning, development and care, known as the early years foundation stage.

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reference number

procedures set out in the guidance ‘Complaints procedure: raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted’, which is available from Ofsted’s website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted. If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk. achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, work-based learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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reference number

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reference number

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reference number

T: 0300 123 4234 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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